Juniper project faces $700,000 budget shortfall

The city's planned improvements to Juniper Drive face a $700,000 budget shortfall, according to the city engineer.

Originally set to cost taxpayers about $1.1 million, a now longer stretch of road to be worked on and plans to replace underlying utility lines and other unforeseen expenses have made the cost jump to $1.8 million.

City Engineer Jason Thomas said sewer laterals, valley gutters, a storm water prevention plan, landscaping, traffic calming devices and in-house engineering fees were not included in the original cost, and design fees, the cost of replacing private entrances, as well as the water main and laterals and other items, were underestimated.

He said the city is looking at alternate funding sources to bridge the gap, including delaying other projects and drawing money from other funds.

The Juniper project is primarily paid for through a loan the city received from the state, according to District 4 Commissioner Josh Rardin.

The city has had three design concepts prepared that call for replacements of, or upgrades to, underground utility lines, some of which lead to residents' houses (laterals), Thomas said.

Thomas added that city ordinances currently prohibit the city paying for private utility lines.

"That would have to be overcome, somehow," Thomas said.

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Last year, the city approved the widening of Juniper Drive from 10th Street to Aspen Drive.

The street is now set to be worked on to just north of Aspen, which accounts for some of the increase in cost. The project is part of a larger street improvement scheme.

Controversial since its inception, the project is not liked by many residents of Juniper. A small but vocal group of residents have shown up at city commission meetings and spoken out against the plan. The street is also littered with signs imploring drivers to lay off the accelerator. Other signs lambaste the city government for approving the project and its cost.

Even those who don't have a strong opinion about the city's plans say speeding in the area is a problem, and the design concepts try to take into account speeding while preserving private property, improving pedestrian visibility and shortening crosswalk distances.

The city has an open house on the Juniper project planned for early July.

"City staff and consultants will be there. We will have the plans laid out," Thomas said. "We will also be passing out comment cards."

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